Victor Harris Joins Sand County Foundation Board
February 10, 2025
Victor Harris has joined the board of directors of the Sand County Foundation, a national nonprofit working at the intersection of agriculture and environmental improvement.
Harris is the founder and president of Cierra Publishing Company and serves as the publisher and editor of Minority Landowner Magazine, a national publication that highlights the challenges and successes of minority, limited resource and small farmers, ranchers and forest landowners. Its mission is to help them improve productivity, increase profitability and maintain ownership of their land. Minority Landowner Magazine has also designed and delivered over 100 farmer and landowner workshops, field days, webinars and conferences across the country.
“We are thrilled to bring Victor’s extensive communications, conservation, and forestry leadership and perspective to our board,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO.
Harris, who lives in North Carolina, has more than 40 years of experience in forest management, agriculture and natural resources. He served as the first Black forester with the Virginia Department of Forestry, as well as head of engineering services and assistant state forester for administration for the North Carolina Division of Forest Resources.
Harris has served on the Woodlands Committee of the American Forest Foundation and the American Forest Farming Association Ad Hoc Advisory Committee and is a past board member of the Conservation Trust for North Carolina. He is a fellow of the Natural Resources Leadership Institute and a certified public manager.
After completing the forestry program at Tuskegee University, he earned his Bachelor of Science in forestry at North Carolina State University. Among his honors are the U.S. Forest Service State and Private Forestry Deputy Chief’s Award and the Society of American Foresters’ Outstanding Forestry Journalism Award.
Harris was a member of Sand County Foundation’s Independent Review Team in October 2023 and serves on the advisory board of Sand County Foundation’s Land Ethic Mentorship program.
SAND COUNTY FOUNDATION inspires and empowers farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners to ethically care for the land so future generations have clean and abundant water, healthy soil, and plentiful wildlife habitat. www.sandcountyfoundation.org